A warm congratulations to all UNE alumni who were honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list this month.

The list celebrates the outstanding achievement of our alumni, their selfless contribution to community and their hard work.

Recipients are nominated by their peers and independently assessed as worthy of recognition. The diversity and range of achievements listed below is testament to the far-reaching impact of our alumni and the difference they make in the lives of others.

“Every year at the Queen’s Birthday and Australia Day we get a reminder of the talented and committed people who have passed through UNE as students and their achievements in business, industry, culture and community around the country,” said Robert Heather, Director of the Office of Advancement, Communications and Events.

“Many of our alumni community continue to make significant contributions to the University and acknowledge the importance of the education they received through UNE in shaping their lives.

Agriculture scientist Dr Jo Newton, who excelled as a student at UNE and continues to excel in the workplace; former independent member for New England Tony Windsor who received an honorary doctorate from UNE in 2014, and Rear Admiral Sarah Sharkley, Surgeon General in the ADF are just some of the notable alumni included in this year’s honours list.

See the complete list of recipients below:

• Dr Jennifer Anne Abbey, AM. For significant service to the health of aged persons particularly to pain management.
• Ms Sandy June Anderson, OAM. For service to cancer prevention and to Aboriginal women’s health.
• Ms Sarah Louise Brown, AM. For significant service to community health, to remote area nursing, and to the indigenous community.
• Mr Bede Michael Burke, AM. For significant service to the egg production industry, and to the community of Tamworth.
• Warrant Officer Class 1 Brian James Buskell, OAM (Military). For meritorious service to the Australian Army in leadership, cultural reform and tactical expertise.
• Wing Commander Julie Helen Canterbury, Conspicuous Service Medal. For meritorious achievement in project management of upgrades to the C-130J Hercules air transport capability for the Australian Defence Force.
• Warrant Officer Class 1 Michael Stephen Clarke, OAM (Military). For meritorious performance of duty as a Regimental Sergeant Major in the Australian Army.
• Mrs Lindy Anne Commens, PSM. For outstanding public service to education in New South, particularly to families of children with disabilities.
• Mr Maxwell Herbert Cooper, OAM. For service to dentistry, and to the community of Dubbo.
• Lieutenant Colonel Andrew James Deacon, Conspicuous Service Medal. For meritorious devotion to duty as Deputy Director of the Defence Response Unit.
• Mr Brian William Debus, OAM. For service to primary education.
• Brigadier General Shane Leslie Gabriel, AM (Military Division). For exceptional service to the development and modernisation of Australian Army capability as Director General Modernisation – Army, Chief of Staff Special Operations Command and as the Military Attaché, Washington.
• Colonel Bede Galvin Bar, Conspicuous Service Cross. For outstanding achievement in the design and execution of Army and Australian Defence Force collective training.
• Colonel Steve Gaunt, AM (Military Division). For exceptional service as Commanding Officer of the 13th Combat Service Support Battalion, Senior Medical Officer, and Deputy Commander of the 13th Brigade.
• Dr Judy Hyde, OAM. For service to clinical psychology, and to professional associations.
• Mr Norman Lyle Keats, OAM. For service to lawn bowls.
• Mr Mike Anthony King, OAM. For service to the project management sector.
• Major Paul Lambert, Conspicuous Service Medal. For meritorious achievement as the Officer Commanding, 138 Signal Squadron.
• Dr John Robert MacPherson, AM. For significant service to people with a disability, and to access and inclusion.
• Ms Coralie Anne McAlister, PSM. For outstanding public service to education in the Australian Capital Territory.
• Mr John Francis McKenzie, AM. For significant service to the law, to the legal profession, and to social justice for the Indigenous community.
• Dr Jo Eliza Newton, OAM. For service to agriculture through scientific research.
• Miss Genevieve Mary Overell, AM. For significant service to the community through roles with a range of organisations.
• Professor Dr Christine Beatrice Phillips, AM. For significant service to medical education, to migrant and refugee health, and to medicine.
• Ms Fran Susan Rowe, OAM. For service to the rural community of New South Wales.
• Rear Admiral Sarah Edith Sharkey, AM (Military Division). For exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in the management of health care.
• Mrs Marie Evelyn Standen, OAM. For service to refugees, and to the community of the Blue Mountains.
• Major General Simon Stuart, AO (Military Division). For distinguished service and exceptional leadership as Force Commander, Multinational Force and Observers, Operation MAZURKA
• Mr Michael John Walsh, PSM. For outstanding public service to the health sector in Queensland.
• Mr Terence Carl Wetherall, AM. For significant service to business and commerce, to the superannuation sector, and to the community.
• Mr Tony Harold Curties Windsor, AM. For significant service to the Parliaments of Australia and New South Wales, and to the community of New England.